Key holder



Sept. 25, 1934. ANDls 1,974,558

KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 24, 1932.

I I IIIII m an 3 INVENTOR o Y M3 4.

TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1934 PATENT OFFICE KEY HOLDER Mathew Andis,Racine, Wis.

Application December 24, 1932, Serial No. 648,753

24 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in key holders of that typedesigned to normally retain keys in definite relation to each otherwithin a protective casing in such a manner as to facilitate theprojection and return of a selected key- An object of my invention is toprovide an improved form of key holder having paired side plates betweenwhich keys may be folded and fixedly held under resilient pressure,subject to 0 the manualrelease of a selected key for projection to aposition convenient for use, or removal,said holder also permitting theremoval and replacement of keys without material change in tension ofthe pressure applying means or in the pressure upon a remaining key heldby the with their shanks in pivotal relation thereto; to

provide tensioning means for resiliently urging the ward carryingportions of the keys in engagement with the side plates or withassociated detents; to provide means whereby suitable detents of wearresisting material may be connected with non-metallic holder members orplates; and to provide improved means for identifying the respectivekeys when observation is not possible by reason of darkness or for anyother reason.

A general object is to providean inexpensive key holder to be carried inthe pocket of the user to not onlyconnect keys in a group, but to keepthem in a predetermined order, protect the clothing from wear, andfacilitate key selection and manipulation.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved key holder showing one ofthe keys projected in position for use.

Figure 2 is an inner face view of one of the side plates with the keysand springs removed.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the springs in position with one keyfolded and a fragment 5 of another key projected.

Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section through one of the pivotalspacing connections and exposing the extremities of the resilient keyactuating arms. I

Figure 5 is a section drawn to line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a similar section showing a modification adapted for usewhen the side plates are formed of metal.

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the springs.

Like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout theseveral views.

My improved key holder is formed with a pair of side plates 10 and 11,preferably formed of composition material such as bakelite, although ifdesired it may be formed of metal in which case aluminum will bepreferred.

Near eachend-each plate is provided with a circular socket whichreceives a spacing sleeve 12 against the ends of which the plates areclamped byconnecting screws 13, the heads of which may be counter sunkin the outer faces of the plates. These screws pass through apertures inthe plates and have threaded engagement within the spacing sleeve 12 asbest illustrated in Figure 4.

By removing one of these screws, the plate may be moved outwardly to aslight extent and swung laterally upon its connection at the oppositeend to allow an apertured key shank to be adjusted to the end portion ofthe spacing sleeve, whereupon the plate 10 (or 11) may be swung backinto position and clamped to the end of the sleeve 12. By employingclamping screws 13 at each side, two keys may be pivotally mounted onthe sleeve 12 at each end of the plate.

A spring 16, coiled about the central portion of the sleeve 12, isadapted to urge both key shanks toward their associated-plates 10 and 11respectively, and the end portions of this spring are extended to form apair of arms 17 and 18, having elbowed extremities 19' and 20, which areeach adapted to engage an associated key at the junction of its shankhead with the ward carrying portion or between the shank head and thestop flanges 22 at the base of the ward carrying portions.

The spring arms 17 and 18 are preferably provided with intermediateoppositely extending offset portions 25 and 26, which allow the arms tobe crossed and interlocked with each other as shown in Figure 7, wherebyeach arm limits the outwardly swinging movement of the other when thesprings are released from normal assembly with the plates and pivotalspacing sleeves 12.

When in normal assembly the extremities of the elbowed portions 19 and20, may extend across their associated keys into arcuate sockets 28formed in the plates 10 and 11, whereby these sockets may serve to limitrotative movement of the coil 105 16 about its sleeve 12. Stops 29require correct insertion of keys.

In the spring shown in Figure "I, the tension of the coil 16 tends toswing the arm 18 in a clock- Wi Q direction and the arm 17 in acounter-clock- 11 wise direction with reference to the open end of thecoil exposed to view in Figure 7.

Therefore, when assembled in association with a pair of keys on oppositesides of the arms 17 and 18, each of the keys will be urged in adirection tending to project it from between the plates in a swingingmovement by pressure of the elbowed end portions of the arms 1'7 and 18against the front margins of the keys i. e., the margin facing inwardlyand occupied by the wards in each instance.

In Figure3 one key of the left hand pair is absent and the extremity 19of the arm 17 is shown in full lines at the exposed end of the arcuaterecess 28; The wall of the recess serves as an abutment to take thereactionary pressure of the spring. which remains under tension andcontinues to urge the elbowed portion 20 of the other arm in a directiontending to project its associated key A from its normal folded positionbetween the plates. But normally such key is prevented from being soprojected by a hook shaped detent 30 on the plate 11 in which the backside of the ward carrying portion engages as best shown in Figure 5,said back side facing outwardly.

If another key, corresponding with the key B in Figure 4, is inserted inthe holder from the opposite side, the head of its shank will furthercompress the same spring coil 16. This key will first occupy a projectedposition, and when swung to the folded position will engage and carrythe elbowed end portion 19 to the position indicated by dotted lines inFigure 3, whereupon the ward carrying portion of the second key B may beengaged with the hook shaped detent 32 on the plate 10.

It will, of course, be understood that when the second key is engagedwith the pivot or spacing sleeve 12 as assumed in the foregoingparagraph, its holding plate 10 will be swung to normal position andsecured by its clamping screw 13 before such key will be swung to foldedposition and engaged with the detent 32, on the plate 10.

The spring 16 will serve as a compression spring, preferably undertension at all times when the plates 10 and 11 are in normal connectedposition, at least when either one or both of the keys A and B arepresent in the holder. The keys C and D at the other end of the holderwill be similarly supported and held in position by similar detents 31and 33 on the plates 11 and 10 respectively.

It will be observed that the spring 16 is not only under compressiontending to press the pivot heads of the key shanks against therespective plates 10 and 11, but it is also under coiling tensiontending to separate the arms 17 and 18. By interlocking the portions 25and 26 of these arms, their movement of separation is limited althougheach arm is left free to be moved by its associated key in opposition tothe spring tenv sion. Therefore, the keys will be normally held'againstmovement, not only by the detents, but

against movement on the pivot sleeves 12 by being pressed against theadjacent plate. By providing the extremity of each plate with aninwardly projecting boss 36 to receive the pressure of the key shankhead at the side of the pivot opposite that occupied by the wardcarrying portion, I utilize these springs 16 to press the ward carryingportions in the direction of the adjacent plates, the keys occupying aslightly oblique position within the holder. The pressure of the springnot only prevents the keys from rattling or vibrating, but it also tendsto urge any key that may be improperly engaged with the detent toward aproper or full engagement therewith.

If the side plates 10 and 11 are formed of nonmetallic material or ofsoft material, I preferably employ sheet metal detent strips 38 ofharder material and anchor them in slightly recessed channels in theinner faces of the plates as indioated in Figure 5, in which the plates10 and 11 are provided with shoulders 39 to receive the hook shaped endsof the detent strip 38 and the detent strips are anchored in position byprojections 40 on the'shoulders 39, adapted to be received in sockets orapertures 41 formed in the hooked ends of the detent strip. The inturnedextremities 42 prevent an accidental release of the key after it hasonce been properly engaged between these extremities and the centralportion of the strip 38. By slightly buckling the central portion, theend portions may be inserted between the shoulders 39, whereupon thestrip may be sprung into the position in which it is illustrated inFigure 5. It will then be retained against movement longitudinally ofthe holder by its an- 1 chorage in the receiving channel, and it will beretained against movement perpendicular to its associate side plate 10or 11 by engagement of the rounded projections 40 in the sockets orapertures 41. 1

Where the side plates are formed of metal, having sufficient hardnessand strength to resist wear or breakage, they may be formed withshoulders 39a and anchoring projections 42a, in which event the detentstrips 38 may be omitted.

The outer margins of the shouldered portions of the plates arepreferably rounded or bevelled as indicated at 45 whereby, when any keyis returned to the holder after having been projected as indicated atthe left hand in Figure 1, it will L be guided by this rounded orbevelled face of the holder into the space between the plates and undercontinued folding pressure will be brought to a position where thespring 16 will swing its ward carrying portion underneath the anchorage1 projection 42 or 42a. The side margins of the plates 10 and 11 areprovided with rounded recesses 47 adapted to admit the finger or a thumbof the user to push the key inwardly to folded position or to release akey from the detent or 1 anchorage projection 42 by first pressing ittoward the center line of the plate and then pressing it toward thecenter of the space between the plates until it passes from beneath itsretaining anchor or detent.

To permit identification of the keys in the dark or at any time whenthey can not be readily identified by vision, the outer surfaces of theplates 10 and 11 are provided with elongated projections 48, so arrangedthat the key D would be iidentified by a single projection on the outersurface of the plate near the pivotal connection of that key. The key Cwill be similarly identified by two projections, the key B by threeprojections, and the key A by four projections, the 1"."

number and arrangement of projections in each case not being material ifdifferentiated from the identifying projections of the other keys.

The outer surfaces of the plates 10 and 11 and of the identifyingprojections are contoured or 1 rounded to prevent injury to clothing andreduce wear to a minimum, the key holder being adapted to be carried ina pocket as a pocket knife is carried. All of the keys are normally heldfixedly in the holder since the springs are under coiling tension andthe coils are under compression, at least when one or both of theassociated keys are in position.

Also, the uncoiling or tension relieving movement is primarily limitedby the keys themselves when engaged with their detents; by the end wallsof the arcuate recesses 28 when projection or removal of a key allows aslight recoil; and by the interlocking of the offset portions of thearms 1'7 and 18 when not otherwise held against recoil. This faci'itatesthe insertion of a key in the holder since the mere movement of the keyto folded position causes it to engage the extremity of the associatedarm 17 or 18 and carry it to its normal key holding position.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a pair of spaced holder plates, key holdingand pivoting members connecting the end portions of the plates,intermediate key engaging detents and means for resiliently pressingeach pivoted key into normal engagement with one of the detents, saiddetents extending partially across the space between the plates.

2. A key holder comprising a pair of spaced holder plates connected inspaced relation with each other by transverse pins adapted to serve askey supporting pivot members insertable through apertured key shanks,key engaging detents carried by the respective plates. each detentextending partially across the space between the plates with sufficientspace between it and the opposing plate and its detents to permit areleased key to swing outwardly upon its pivotal connection from betweenthe plates, and means for normally holding each key in releasable engagement with its associated detent.

3. A key holder comprising a pair of plates, spacing sleeves between theplates, screws connecting the spacing sleeves with the plates, and eachadapted whenreleased to permit the pivotal connection of a key with thespacing sleeve, a spring coiled about each spacing sleeve undercompression and adapted to press a pair of pivoted keys in oppositedirections against the respective side plates, and key retainingprojections on the inner faces of the side plates intermediate of theirends, said spring having its end portions extended to form arms adaptedfor tension engagement with the keys at a distance from their pivotalconnections to urge them into engagement with the retaining projectionsand to project them from between the plates when manually released fromtheir associated projections.

4. A key holder comprising a pair of plates, spacing sleeves between theplates, screws connecting the spacing sleeves with the plates and eachadapted, when released, to permit the pivotal connection of a key withthe spacing sleeve, a spring coiled about each spacing sleeve andadapted to press a pair of pivoted keys in opposite directions againstthe respective side plates, and key engaging detents on the inner facesof the side plates, intermediate of their ends. said spring having itsend portions extended to form arms adapted for tension engagement withthe keys at a distance from their pivotal connections to urge them intoengagement with the detents and to project a key from between the plateswhen manually released from its associated detent, said spring armsbeing interlocked to limit their uncoiling reaction.

5. A key holder comprising a pair of plates,

' spacing sleeves between the plates, screws conretaining detents nearthe margins of each plate,

necting the spacing sleeves with the plates, and each adapted, whenreleased, to permit the pivotal connection of a key with the spacingsleeve, a spring coiled about each'spacing sleeve under tension andadapted to press a pair of pivoted keys in opposite directions againstthe respective side plates, and key retainers adapted to normally holdthe keys between the 'plates, said spring having its end portionsextended to form arms adapted for tension engagement with the keys at adistance from their pivotal connections to normally urge them intoengagement with the key retainers and project them when released, saidspring arms being adapted for engagement with their associated sideplates to limit their uncoiling reaction and prevent rotation of thecoil upon the pivot sleeve.

6. A key holder comprising a pair of spaced plates, means forreleasablysupporting keys between the plates, resilient means forpressing the keys in opposite directions against the plates and urgingtheir ward carrying portions outwardly from between the plates, andmeans for normally holding said Ward carrying portions between theplates subject to manual release by manipulation.

7. A key holder comprising a pair of spaced side plates provided withconnecting pins each also adapted for pivotally supporting a pair ofkeys, said plates having inwardly extending key each detent beingadapted to positively prevent outward movement of the key in the planewhich it normally occupies between the plates and requiring manualmanipulation of a selected key to release the same from the detent withwhich it normally engaged.

8. A key holder comprising a pair of spaced side plates provided withconnecting means adapted for pivotally supporting a pair of keys, saidplates having inwardly extending key retaining detents near the marginsof each plate extending across the plane normally occupied by anassociated key, resilient means for normally holding each key inengagement with its associate detent in a position requiring manualmanipulation of a selected key to release the same from the detent withwhich it normally engaged, said plates being marginally recessed tofacilitate manual pressure in opposition to said resilient pressure toretract from the detent, and effect the release of a selected key.

9. A key holder adapted at its respectiveends to engage and pivotallysupport keys in folded positions within the holder. resilient keyprojecting means. cooperative means for normally retaining the keys infolded position within the holder, said retaining means comprisingnormally unyielding detents with each of which an associated key may beheld in pressure engagement by key projecting means. each detent beingadapted to require its associated key to be manually moved inwardly andlaterally preparatory to a projection of the key from the holder.

10. A key holder comprising a pair of plates.

spacing sleeves between the plates, screws con necting the spacingsleeves w'th the plates, and each adapted when released to permit thepivotal connection of a key with the spacing sleeve, a spring coiledabout each spacing sleeve under tension and adapted to press a pair ofpivoted 1'15 keys in opposite directions against the respective sdeplates hook shaped key retaining projections on the inner faces of theside plates intermediate of their ends. and key engaging arms connectedwith said spring and adapted to engage the keys at a distance from theirpivotal connections to urge them into engagement with the retainingprojections under'the recoiling tension of the spring and to project aselected key from between the plates when manuallyreleased from itsassociated projection, said plates being provided with arm engagingabutments on their inner faces adapted to limit rotative movement of thecoil upon the sleeve.

11. In a key holder having side plates and adapted to support a group ofpivotally connected keys, hook shaped key retaining detents on the sideplates' each adapted to receive the ward carrying portion of one of thekeys, and relatively hard facing strips for the detents.

12. In a key holder having walls adapted to support a group of pivotallyconnected keys, the combination with the holder walls, of hook shapedkey retaining detents composed of outer portions integral with saidwalls and relatively hard lining portions for engagement with the keys.

13. In a key holder, the combination with a set of spaced walls betweenwhich keys may be received and a key retaining pivot pin connecting saidwalls, of a spring coiled about said pivot pin under compression betweenthe walls of the holder and having extended arms formed with keyengaging end portions adapted to urge keys in opposite directions toproject them from the holder, said coiled spring being under compresslontending to urge keys toward the respective ends of the pivot pin. andunder coiling tension tending to swing said arms to key projectingpositions.

14. In a key holder provided with spaced walls connected by key engagingpivot pins, a key projecting spring coiled under tension and having theends of the coil extended to form key projecting arms each normally inengagement with an associated key, said arms being adapted to interlockand limit their uncoiling movement to the extent required for projectionof a key from the holder, and also adapted to be engaged by saidassociated keys to normally hold them under greater tension than that oftheir interlocking position.

15. In a key holder, a key retaining and projecting spring comprising acoil of resilient wire adapted to be compressed between a pair ofpivoted key shank heads in the holder, the ends of said wire beingextended, crossed, and provided with key engaging end portions, saidcrossed portions of the wire being adapted to interlock and limit theiruncoiling movement after projection or removal of a key, whereby to holdthe coil under tension.

16. In a key holder provided with spaced wallsconnected by key engagingpivot pins, a key retaining and projecting spring comprising a coil ofresilient wire adapted to be compressed between a pair of pivoted keyshank heads in the holder, said wire being provided with key engagingend portions, and means for limiting the tension relieving movements ofthe spring arms substantially to the degree of recoil required forprojecting a key from the holder.

17. In a key holder, a key retaining and projecting spring comprising acoil of resilient wire adapted to be compressed between a pair ofpivoted key shank heads in the holder, the ends of said wirebeingextended, crossed, and provided with key engaging end portions, saidholder being adapted to limit the tension relieving movements of thearms when the portion of the key engaged .thereby has been projectedfrom the holder, and

said arms being also adapted to interlock and limit such movementsindependently of the holder and keys, whereby to relieve the pressure ofsaid arms upon the projected key and to hold the coil under tension whenthe holder is opened for removal or insertion of a key.

18. In a key holder provided with spaced walls connected by key engagingpivot pins, a key ejecting coiled spring having end portions extendedand adapted to serve as key ejecting arms, said arms havingintermediately oifset portions, crossed and adapted to interlock afterpredetermined key ejecting movements and hold the arms underpredetermined minimum tension.

19. In a key holder adapted to support a group of pivotally connectedkeys, the combination with the holder walls, of rigid inwardly extendinghookshaped key-retaining detents, one for each key, adapted andpositioned for normal interlocking engagement with such key tonormallylimit its swinging movement about its pivotal axis, and resilient meansfor normally holding each key within the hook of an associated detentsubject to release under manual pressure in opposition to said holdingmeans and in a direction to swing the key laterally with reference tothe detent.

20. In a key holder, the combination with a wall plate and a keyengaging pivot pin, of a projection on the inner face of the plate atone side of the pivot pin, a detent on the plate at the other side ofthe pivot pin adapted to permit interlocking engagement of a keytherewith, and resilient means for pressing the key in the direction ofsaid projection and detent, the projection being adapted to hold thepivoted end of the key at a greater'distance from the plate than the endof the key engaged by the detent whereby to normally prevent lateralmovement of the key away from the plate and detent.

21. In a key holder, the combination with a side plate and a key engagedpivot pin, of a projection on the inner face of the plate adjacent toand at one side of the pivot pin, a detent on the plate at the otherside of the pivot pin, a spring coiled about said pivot pin undertension urging the key toward an oblique position in pressure engagementwith said projection near one end of the key and with the side platenear the other end, and means for holding one end of the spring in arelatively fixed position with reference to the key, the other endportion of the spring being engageable with the key and adapted to urgethe key under resilient pressure into interlocking engagement with thedetent.

22. In a key holder, the combination with a side plate and a key engagedpivot pin, of a projection on the inner face of the plate adjacent toand at one side of the pivot pin, a detent'on the plate at the otherside of the pivot pin, a spring coiled about said pivot pin undertension urging the key toward an oblique position in "pressureengagement with said projection near one end of the key and with theside plate near the other end, means for holding one end of the springin a relatively fixed position with reference to the key, the other endportion of the spring being engageable with the key and adapted to urgethe key under resilient pressure into interlocking engagement with thedetent, and a stop connected with said plate in a position forengagement with the key engaging end portion of the spring when the keyis removed.

23. In a key holder, the combination with a side plate having a keypivot, of a rounded bearing projecting inwardly at one side of thepivot,

marginal projections with which keys so pivoted may engage, andresilient means for normally urging the keys, each in the direction ofone of the projections, said side plates and their projections havinglining strips of non-frangible, wear resisting material affixedto theirinner surfaces at the points contacted by the keys when swinging intoengagement with the projections.

MATHEW ANDIS.

